Midwest Planned Parenthood affiliate now advertises ‘gender affirming surgeries’

There are now indications that Planned Parenthood — the largest provider of abortions and second largest provider of “gender-affirming” hormone drugs, by its own admission — is drifting toward offering “gender-affirming surgeries.”

The website for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers (PPGR) (as seen in the screenshot below) states, “Planned Parenthood also offers some gender affirming surgeries to patients in the St. Louis area and refers to other providers when needed.”

PPGR was formerly known as Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri — an affiliate which operated Reproductive Health Services Planned Parenthood in St. Louis, considered one of the most dangerous abortion facilities in the country due to its long history of injuring abortion clients.

What is Planned Parenthood providing?

Planned Parenthood nationally claims that “gender-affirming treatments like hormones and surgery” are “medically necessary” because, according to Planned Parenthood, they “improve trans and nonbinary people’s health.” The abortion corporation claims such “treatments… can help decrease gender dysphoria and/or increase gender euphoria.”

Adding that the “procedures” of removing healthy body parts in “top” or “bottom” surgery “can be an important part of transitioning…”

However, the corporation hasn’t gone that far… yet.

According to PPGR, the affiliate offers “gender affirming hormone therapy and some gender affirming surgeries.”

A “gender-affirming” surgery, according to PPGR (on paper, anyway) consists of vasectomy, hysterectomy, and oophorectomy (the surgical removal of an ovary).

“We offer gender-affirming hormone therapy and behavioral health to patients 16 years and older, gender-affirming surgery (vasectomy, hysterectomy, and oophorectomy) to adult patients…” the affiliate’s impact report for 2022-23 noted.

Planned Parenthood’s Surgery Referrals

While one Planned Parenthood affiliate offers “gender-affirming surgery” additional Planned Parenthood locations across the country will refer for surgery, as seen in this document linked on the website of Planned Parenthood Keystone, revealing how Planned Parenthood “patient navigators” assist with transgender surgery referrals.

In Illinois, Planned Parenthood admitted that “Gender-affirming surgery is permanent, and the results can have both physical and mental health consequences” — yet PP offers to “help you navigate gender affirming surgery,” according to the Planned Parenthood of Illinois video below:

Gender-affirming care at Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest (PPPSW) says their “Care Coordination supports patients with mental health services, abortion navigation, practical support, and resources beyond sexual and reproductive health care,” adding that they even have a “Lyft Program” to assist an out-of-state abortion seeker to get a “ride to and from her appointment.”

PPPSW’s blog pointed out a scenario in which “Care Coordination” assisted an individual in obtaining “gender-affirming” surgery:

Care Coordination was referred a patient receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy who shared that he was interested in top surgery.

Care Coordination assisted the patient in finding a mental health provider for a referral letter, navigating the referral process with his PCP, and finding a surgeon.

When the process felt overwhelming for the patient, Care Coordination called the patient’s insurance and surgeon’s office with him for additional support and advocacy.

After several months navigating insurance and surgeon requirements, this patient had top surgery and described the experience as ‘euphoric.’

With Care Coordination, this patient successfully navigated the complicated surgery process to access care that was essential to his transition and wellbeing.

Planned Parenthood allegedly referred client for ‘top surgery’ without ever meeting the client

Planned Parenthood clients have claimed that the organization does little to no counseling before prescribing cross-sex hormones or referring clients for permanent, body-altering surgery. The corporation’s “informed consent model” means Planned Parenthood does not “require a note from a mental health therapist to receive hormone therapy. We believe when our patients are fully informed, they can make the best decision for themselves and their bodies.”

Ryan claimed she received no counseling before she obtained a cross-sex hormone prescription from Planned Parenthood to “transition” from female to male, as Live Action News previously detailed.

She told Dr. Phil that Planned Parenthood also referred her for so-called ‘top surgery’ — meaning one in which her healthy female breasts would be surgically removed. According to a report published by the Post-Millennial, “Planned Parenthood also gave her a letter to facilitate surgical breast removal, known in the gender identity movement as ‘top surgery,’ after only a 45-minute phone call.”

Ryan told Dr. Phil that she was quickly approved by a center (not Planned Parenthood) for the surgery but ended up deciding against it.

Cat Cattinson also considered the same surgery and said her initial contact was a Planned Parenthood doctor — who reportedly never met Cat in person but provided her a letter of recommendation for the permanent removal of her breasts.

“I had top surgery scheduled as well, double mastectomy. To obtain permission for that I also talked to a different doctor at Planned Parenthood who again, without meeting me, had written me a recommendation letter for top surgery,” Cattinson stated.

But Cattinson claimed that due to the horrific effects of testosterone on her body, she decided not to proceed with the surgery.

“I think that if I would have been able to transition as a child and gone onto puberty blockers, gone onto cross-sex hormones at a young age and cut off body parts, I think I would be looking back and I would be thinking, ‘how could you enable this? How could you have gone along with this when I was too young to consent?’” Cattinson stated.

In 2022, the Associated Press reported that “The World Professional Association for Transgender Health [WPATH] said hormones could be started at age 14, two years earlier than the group’s previous advice, and some surgeries done at age 15 or 17, a year or so earlier than previous guidance. The group acknowledged potential risks but said it is unethical and harmful to withhold early treatment,” the AP noted (emphasis added).

Planned Parenthood, interestingly enough, is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).